City to give pilot a welcome home party

Town officials say they are planning a king-sized welcome back party this weekend for Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger II, the pilot who successfully landed a jet in the Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers and crew.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is on the invite list, said Mayor Newell Arnerich.

“I spoke with Gov. Schwarzenegger this morning personally. I invited him and his wife, Maria, to be our guests,” Arnerich said.

The Danville mayor is in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which started Friday. Schwarzenegger was there to receive an award, Arnerich said.

Sullenberger steered a US Airways jet into the Hudson River on Thursday after the plane reportedly struck a flock of geese, crippling its engines.

The safe landing attracted international attention to the Danville pilot and an invitation to today’s inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The pilot’s wife, Lorraine, and their two daughters are scheduled to join him at the ceremonies.